Paco

Ernesto is one of the best, if not the best fish and seafood stores in Madrid. It is inside the Mercado de Chamartin, but it´s not cheap. You can see many japanese restaurant owners buying fresh fish there and the lineups can keep you waiting for 15 or 20 min (you pick the number and shop elsewhere). I also heard Las Ventas market is big, good and cheap. Lavapies is rapidly changing, and it has its share of conflict too, specially with some young gangs of mainly morrocan teenage outfits. I hope you enjoy it.

I would have to agree with Pedro on everything he said, and yes, Julian de Tolosa is probably the best place for meat. Regarding Granada, I was there 1 year ago and was dissapointed with the restaurants. I went to El Mirador de Moraima, on a hill in front of the Alhambra with a private balcony to stare at the monument lit at night, and that was about the best thing of the place, the food barely got a 5/10, but the price was not expensive at all. My experience with the flan de queso in Arevalo town in the restaurant "El Figon de Arevalo"... I still cry remembering it. I have never had an expensive dinner in NY, only medium price, so I find it very interesting and flattering that Americans appreciate Spanish products and cooking. I have tried lobster in Boston and Maine, or fried scallops, and I have to say the quantity was enormous but it was missing taste, so I guess spensing 300 euros in Combarro but having a feast makes sense once in a while. One of the best "Merluza a la Gallega" in Madrid is in "Casa d'a Troya", c/Emiliano Barral 14 (91) 416 44 55. It is a huge center piece of hake ina red semi-paprika-oily sauce with boiled potatos. Family run restaurant, good "empanadillas" for starters, 1 Campsa Guide sun and a good meal for 2 for 100 euros with everything. Vmilor, I wasn´t recomending Casa Botin since I´ve never eaten there, and my Turkish friends are not gastronomically ignorant. I was just trying to say that from a tourist´s point of view it "might" be an interesting place to visit, maybe not even have dinner. I have to agree with you on Coque, in Humanes. I agree with Bux on the wonderfulness of apparently unspecial restaurants in Spain, specially the ones serving roasted suckling pig.

Hi CFW, I have never been at Casa Botin, but I have friends from Turkey that have gone there and liked it very much. I believe the restaurant is interesting, 2 or 3 levels and correct me if I am wrong, but it holds the guiness record for the oldest restaurant in the world. Decoration should be interesting. By the way, walking from Plaza Mayor towards Botin, if you pass it you will find "La Cava Baja", the street I mentioned with all the tapas and restaurants. I strongly recommend to go to the Salamanca / Segovia area for "Cochinillo" (baby roasted pig). I have read from people who seem to know a lot, that the best place is in Salamanca, and it is called: Mesón Arandino (923217382). Juicy and incredible texture and taste. I have tried the one in Jose Maria (tef: 921466017), in Segovia, and one day it was excellent, the other not so good. They do have a masification problem (too big a restaurant). Meson Candido is very famous since he was the pioneer of Cochinillo in Spain and all the politicians and Holywood actors went there. Another incredible cochinillo I had in a town between Salamanca and Avila (1hr. 45 min drive from Madrid) called Arevalo. The restaurant has changed its name and now it is called "El Figon de Arevalo", tef: 920 30 18 76. For starters, the "Revuelto de Morcilla con piñones" (scrambled eggs with dark sausage and pine tree nuts, a bit spicy) was just incredible. One of the best desserts I have had ever in my life was a "Flan de Queso", or Cheese Custard. Please order it. The restaurant is not fancy, and the bill will not be more than 35 euros including everything. I hope you find it useful, Paco

I would be interested too in any advice. I have read about "Anthurium", in the capital, Las Palmas, "Amaiur" and "El Portalon", but have never been there since I am going there for the first time by the end of March. I read there are very good sample menus on the first two for 30-50 euros per person. By the way, if anyone knows if there any good korean and/or thai restaurants in the island it will be greatly appreciated. I heard there is an important Korean community there but just found one korean restaurant in Las Palmas. Thank you, Paco

Hi, I am new in the forum but happen to live in Madrid, so maybe I can try to help you. Combarro will vary depending on what you order. If you ask for seafood, it can go up pretty high, 100 - 150 euros per person with everything: wine, dessert, etc. A normal meal with fish could be somewhere in the 50-60 range per person. You can also have excellent seafood in a not so luxurious dining room at "La Trainera". A bit cheaper than Combarro and very recomendable. "Riantxo" has a very good lobster and potato stew. I have discovered an excellent Basque Asador called "Pelotari". The hake (merluza) grilled on top of the charcoal with olive oil, garlic and hot pepper is just unbeatable. They only buy fresh fish that morning, so it is better to ask what fish they recomend that day. The meat is also excellent. If they have it, "almejas a la marinera" are superior. For starters, "Pimientos del piquillo rellenos de bacalao" and pastel de puerros are two incredible dishes at incredibly cheap prices. If you can convince them to give you a sample plate of desserts just for two you will not forget. Otherwise ask for "Panchineta". Total bill for 2 with wine and a long drink will be around 100-120 for both. A good option for tapas is the street of "La Cava Baja": Casa Lucas, and El Almendro are good places, but the street is full of restaurants. And Spanish people go there (also some tourists) A good paella place could be Saint James, waiters not too friendly but the best "arroz abanda" in town. I have been at Fronton recently and it disapointed me. Plate of meat with a pool of blood, the ham was cut with the fish knife---no comment. In Segovia, if you visit "La Granja de San Ildefonso" a good option for homemade cooking is Casa Zaca. try the "Patatas a la importancia" or the cocido. Great rasberries for dessert.